Be different -- be like Jesus

Friday

Sep 7, 2012 at 5:00 AM

By Glenn Sprunger

Do you enjoy being different? Or do you try to fit in and be like everyone else? I cannot go very far without seeing a young person wearing an Aero shirt or an athlete wearing something with a Nike symbol on it. Our community is permeated with people who try to be like others. I'm not impressed by people who are trying to impress or be like others. What catches my attention is when someone lives differently than most people.

While the world judges people based on outward appearance, God looks at our hearts. He designed us to be engaged in a lifelong process of becoming different, more like Jesus, for the benefit of others. The problem I encounter is more people are being turned away from following Jesus Christ because professing Christians are trying to live and talk and dress like the world instead of being different. I still believe the world expects Christ-followers to be different. The world quickly sniffs out pretenders, while Jesus calls us out of pretending to be like Him. Jesus calls us to be the real deal. Jesus calls us to come after Him, follow Him, and become like Him so that others will see what a tremendous difference Jesus makes in our lives.

Most people begin to believe in Jesus when they see Jesus with skin on. The good news is God made people in His good image to reflect to the world what God is really like. The bad news is we reflect God in a very imperfect way. But if you look carefully into the lives of people, you will get a glimpse of Jesus, and you also will find God's grace working through imperfect containers.

I have a Jesus-with-skin-on friend who travels around the world educating and gracing people who care for loved ones who are walking in forgetfulness. I found Jesus in her hospitality, her kindness and her willingness to make time for people around her. I have Jesus-with-skin-on parents who also make Christ known by making time for people and sharing songs with them. I have a Jesus-with-skin-on wife who makes Christ known to others by baking cinnamon swirl bread for people who need a fresh reminder that God remembers and cares. I have a Jesus-with-skin-on son who spent the summer working in a leper factory in India sitting with people on the dirty factory floor each day eating lunch with them and helping restore their sense of dignity.

My Jesus-with-skin-on friends all have something wrong with them. They are different, and their differentness positions them to authentically connect with people in real ways that make a difference.

Jesus is a friend of sinners. He made God known by touching people where they hurt. And He calls us to do the same: Make friends with sinners, touching them where they hurt. If we allow Jesus to transform us through His love, we will become different, and people will want our Jesus.